INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is in the spotlight after criticizing the calls of officials.
But what should get attention and be criticized is his own decision to keep TJ McConnell on the bench.
The smallest player on Indiana’s roster had a huge impact on the Pacers in the second round of their series against the Knicks, being the only Pacer to guard standout Jalen Brunson semi-effectively.
But Carlisle’s decision to leave McConnell on the bench at a crucial moment in Game 2 came back to haunt him.
“Well, TJ was playing some pretty good minutes. We considered it,” Carlisle said. “But our starters have earned the trust to finish games. You know. [Andrew] Nembhard is probably our best on-ball defender. And we were also flying around with traps. It was like the kitchen sink was going against them in the fourth inning, but they still kept coming up with loose balls. They generated offensive rebounds. They made the shot. You see, their execution in those situations was very good.
“But look, everything is on the table from now on. It has to be at this point. And we’re going to watch everything closely.”
It remains to be seen whether Carlisle changes that in Friday’s Game 3 at Indianapolis.
McConnell was pulled with 7:10 left in the game when the Pacers led 105-103.
Brunson quickly took Nembhard off the dribble and made a reverse layup 18 seconds later.
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And on the Knicks’ next possession, Brunson hit a step-back 3-pointer with 6:18 left, guarded by Nembhard.
Brunson scored 11 of his 29 points in the final 6 minutes, 52 seconds, most of which came against Nembhard, who was gutted by the Knicks star in the series.
Indiana also missed McConnell’s steady hands at points in the second half.
He finished with a plus-10 rating, scoring 10 points and dishing out 12 assists in about 23 minutes.
But the next day, Pacers fans are asking why he didn’t log nearly 30 minutes.
“Rick is a Hall of Fame coach and has been in this job for a long time, so I believe his rotation is the right one and I fully support him,” McConnell said. “When my number is called, I’m always ready. [even] If that means I have to support the team on the bench. ”
However, the Pacers’ offense couldn’t keep up without the veteran’s steady hand in scoring and facilitating.
The Pacers outscored the Knicks by 19 points in this series with McConnell on the court, but they were outscored by 32 points when McConnell was on the court.
And when Brunson exploded, he shockingly clocked the final 7 minutes, 10 seconds.
Slowing him down was a job Nembhard couldn’t handle, but the pesky McConnell relished it.
“I mean, he’s a dominant player in this league,” McConnell said. “And to play at Madison Square Garden and lift him 94 feet, what greater challenge could there be?”
